Device for moistening envelope flaps



Aug. 21, 1951 F. E. HELMUTH DEVICE FOR MOISTENING NVELOPE FLAPS Filed April 7, 1947 Patented Aug.l 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PA'rrsN'r oFFlCE Floyd E. Helmuth, Mission, Kans.l Application April '7, 1947, Serial No. 739,836

I1 Claim.

'Ihis invention relates to new and useful improvements in a device for ymoistening envelope flaps and has particular reference to a simple device whereby this operation may be conveniently and expeditiously carried out.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an envelope flap moistener wherein the flap of an envelope is passed between a moistening pad and a resilient pressure arm, said arm urging the flap against said pad.

Another object is the provision of means for preventing the drying of the surface of the moistening pad during extended periods of non-use.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and ease and convenience of use.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specification, reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an envelope flap moistener embodying my invention, and showing an envelope flap positioned in moistening relation therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line III-III of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an envelope flap moistener employing a resilient pressure arm of modified form.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the ap moistener shown in Figure 4, with the pressure arm partially broken away and showing the flap of an envelope in operative relationship thereto.

Like reference characters apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral I0 applies to a circular bottle for containing water and having a screw cover I2, said cover having a central aperture I4 extending therethrough. A gasket I6 adapted to bear against the upper edge of bottle I0 and the lower surface of cover I2 provides a watertight seal between said bottle and said cover.

Cover I2 carries a moistening .pad I8 comprising a fabric covering 20 filled with cotton waste 22 or other soft, absorbent material. The edges of covering 20 are clamped .between the lower surface of gasket I6 and a circular plate 24, said plate forming a supporting base for pad I8 and retaining the cotton waste therein. A plurality of bolts 26 spaced about aperture I4 and passing respectively through cover I 2, gasket I6, pad covering 20, and plate 24, serve to clamp the entire moistening pad structure into a unit. The pad extends upwardly through aperture I4 and (Cl. ill-54.4)

above cover I2. A length of-wicking 28, the depending ends of which are immersed in the water carried in bottle I 0, extends upwardly into pad I8 through a slot 30 in plate 24, and is rebent therein to provide even distribution of moisture through the pad.

A pressure arm 32 comprising a flat strip of spring material is rigidly xed'at one end to the upper surface of cover I2 by means of one of bolts 26, and is adapted to extend over and to be-ar resiliently against the top of moistening pad I8. Since the pressure arm is substantially flat, and since the moistening pad has a substantially flat top, there is a considera-ble area of contact between the pressure arm and pad. 'I'he longitudinal edges of the Ipressure arm are curved upwardly to facilitate the insertions of an envelope flap .between the arm and the pad.

The operation of the envelope flap moistener is substantially as follows. With the parts assembled as shown in Figure 3, water travels upwardly through wicking 28 and into moistening pad I8, wetting said pad evenly and thoroughly. The flap 34 of an envelope 36 is inserted, gummed side down, between pressure arm 32 and moistening pad I8, and is manually advanced therebetween to pass all parts of the adhesive of the flap in contact with said moistening pad, thus wetting said adhesive evenly. The flap may then be withdrawn and the envelope sealed in the usual manner. The force exerted by pressure arm 32 is light, and therefore permits very easy insertion of the envelope flap. Stability is given to the entire device by the weight of the water in the lower portion of bottle I0. Since air is excluded from that portion of the surface of moistening lpad I8 which normally is contacted by pressure arm 32, said pad surface will not become dry even after long periods of non-use, and the moistener is thus maintained in readiness for instant use at all times.

In the modified form shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pressure arm 38 comprises a single length of spring wire ybent to substantially a U conformation having parallel reaches 40 and 42, the free ends of which are rigidly attached to cover I2. Said pressure arm is adapted to bear resiliently against the top of moistening pad I8 with opposite reaches 40 and 42 disposed on eitherl sideof the center of said pad so that the arcuate surface of the pad extends between said opposite reaches as shown in Figure 5. Thus, when an envelope ap 34 is drawn between the pressure arm and the moistening pad, it will .be forced upwardly between reaches 40 and 42 by the pad,

thereby insuring an intimate contact between the flap and the moistening pad.

What I claim as new and desire to Iprotect by Letters Patent is:

A device for moistening envelope flaps cornprising a container for water, a removable screw cover for said container having a circular aperture ilorrnedrthereinkan annular gasket disposed between said cover and said;container, `a closure plate forsaid aperture disposed inside said cover and overlapping the inner peripheral edge portion of said gasket, a piece of fabric covering said aperture and having its edge portions disposed between said closure plate and said gasket means Y for securing said closure plate to said 'cover whereby said gasket and said fabricgarewclarnpedtherebetween, absorbent material packed between said closure plate and saidLfabric to form a pad protruding outwardly through said aperture, a wick associated with' said pad anddepending into said contanerthrough' holes provided in said closure plate, and a resilient arm secured to the outer surface of said cover and bearing against said pad.

FLOYD E. HELMUTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this :patent: Y, ,Y A lo UNITED sTATEsPATENTs Number Name Date 425,834 Sword Apr. 15, 1890 {1312,605 Dawson July 22, 1890 703,771 Duncan July 1, 1902 15 V842,108 Northrop Jan. 22, 1907 A 859,646 Y De Villiss July 9, 1907 1,038,265 VVVBaker Sept. 10, 1912 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Nurnber lCountry Date 35,396 Switzerland^ 'May 6, 1906 

